Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Whether you’re planning a weekend break or longer stay, there are plenty of Melbourne travel tips that are worth knowing before you visit. It’s a vibrant city with some great things to do, whether you’re visiting attractions like the MCG or enjoying city views from one of the rooftop bars. Having lived in Melbourne for a year, and visited on several occasions, it’s a city Sam in particular is very familiar with. Read on to find our top Melbourne tips to help make the most of your visit!
Looking for the best things to do in Melbourne? Check out our four day Melbourne itinerary for inspiration!
Our Top Melbourne Travel Tips
Myki and the Free Tram Zone
One of the best Melbourne travel tips is to get yourself a Myki card so that you can make use of the city’s public transport system. Myki cards cost $6 AUD and are available at most train stations and 7-Eleven stores, as well as some tram stops and bus interchanges. Click here for more information on where you can buy a Myki card.
Public transport is a great way to get around Melbourne, with trains and trams running between the CBD and the suburbs. The CBD has a free tram zone, but unless you’re sticking solely to trams in this area then you need a Myki card with sufficient balance in order to use public transport in Melbourne.
When using public transport in Melbourne you need to ‘touch on’ with your Myki by holding it against one of the card readers. The appropriate fare will then be deducted from your balance, with the standard 2 hour fare being $5 AUD and the maximum daily fare being $10.00.
The only time you don’t need to touch on your Myki is if you’re taking a tram in the CBD’s free tram zone. Getting around by public transport is a great way to keep costs down, as it’s much cheaper than taking taxis around the city.
City Circle Tram
Melbourne is an incredible city to explore, and the free City Circle Tram is the perfect way to take in the sights. It’s a great way to see the CBD and surroundings quickly, with the tram taking you past iconic spots such as Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Parliament House, and Flagstaff Gardens.
Audio commentary is provided throughout the journey, giving you an insight into Melbourne’s landmarks and attractions as you pass them.
The city circle tram is number 35, and is easily recognisable for its unique maroon colour. It’s a completely free service, making it a great way to see the city quickly! Trams run both clockwise and anti-clockwise along the route, with both directions taking in the same sights.
Click here to see the route and various stops on the City Circle Tram!
Less Touristy
Melbourne may not have as many big tourist attractions as Sydney, but it still has plenty to offer. The city is well known for its great nightlife, quirky bars, various laneways, coffee shops, diverse restaurants, galleries, museums, and more!
It’s a city with a lot of culture, and it consistently ranks as one of the most liveable cities in the world. One of the best ways to discover what it has to offer is to wander down the CBD’s various laneways, discovering boutiques, cute cafes, and more along the way.
Outside of the CBD, Melbourne has plenty of interesting suburbs to discover. Fitzroy is known for its hipster vibes and trendy restaurants/bars, St Kilda is a popular spot thanks to its beachfront near to the city, and Brunswick boasts a vibrant live music scene and some great pubs and beer gardens.
Melbourne definitely has some cool tourist attractions too, like the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), Federation Square and Eureka Tower Skydeck. Overall though, the city has less of a touristy feel which makes it a great place to visit!
Book Accommodation in Advance
One of the best Melbourne travel tips is to book your accommodation in advance to get the best deal. This rule applies to most places so it may seem pretty obvious, but it’s worth booking ahead as accommodation in Melbourne (and Australia in general) can be pretty expensive.
As soon as you know your travel dates it’s worth getting something booked in. We use Booking.com to book accommodation for most of our trips, and conveniently they offer great deals as well as free cancellation at a lot of properties.
If you find a suitable option it’s worth booking ahead, especially if they offer free cancellation. That way you have accommodation sorted, but can always change your mind if need be.
Click here to find great accommodation deals for your trip on Booking.com!
Be Aware of Major Events
Melbourne hosts a number of massive events, from huge concerts and festivals to annual sporting tournaments like the Australian Open and Grand Prix. One of the best Melbourne travel tips is to be aware of what events are going on in the city, which is useful for a couple of reasons.
One of the reasons it’s useful to be aware of events is that accommodation prices go up during some events, so you’ll want to take the advice above and book even more in advance if possible. The other reason is that you might want to attend one of the events to make your trip more special, which likely will require booking tickets in advance.
Viewpoints of the City
Another of our top Melbourne tips is to discover some of the different viewpoints of the CBD. There are a number of viewpoints outside the CBD where you can appreciate the city skyline and soak in the view.
Some of the best viewpoints of Melbourne are completely free, including the views from the Shrine of Remembrance balcony, the Hamer Hall balcony, and Point Ormond Lookout in St Kilda. On top of that there are some brilliant views of the city from rooftop bars, which we cover below!
There are also some amazing views to be had from the Melbourne Skydeck in the Eureka Tower. Tickets to the skydeck cost just $30 per person, and we recommend going a little before sunset so that you can enjoy city views both before and after dark. Click here to book your tickets to the Eureka Tower Skydeck now through Klook!
For more information on the city’s viewpoints make sure to check out our guide to the best views in Melbourne!
Rooftop Bars
Melbourne is home to a number of great rooftop bars, where you get brilliant views of the city. On a sunny day there are few better choices than to head up to a rooftop bar and grab a refreshing drink or two with some friends!
There are loads of rooftop bars to choose from, both in the CBD itself and a number of the inner suburbs. One of our personal favourites is the not-so-creatively-named Rooftop Bar in the CBD, which is located on the top floor of Curtin House.
Another of Melbourne’s most popular rooftop bars is Naked for Satan, which is located in Fitzroy and offers brilliant views of the city skyline. There are several other rooftop bars to visit in the city, so if the weather’s good then make sure you take the opportunity to enjoy a drink with a view!
Explore the Green Areas
Melbourne has a number of lovely green spaces that are well worth visiting if you have the time. There are plenty of parks and walking trails to enjoy, and it’s a great way to get a change of scenery from the busy streets of the CBD.
One of the best green areas to visit is the Royal Botanic Gardens, which can be found just south of the CBD. These landscaped gardens cover 38 hectares and offer lovely views, peaceful lakes, and an impressive range of plants.
There are plenty of other great parks and gardens to visit too, including Fitzroy Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, Carlton Gardens, Albert Park, and Alexandra Gardens. Discovering the city’s wonderful outdoor spaces is definitely one of the best Melbourne tips!
Day Trips
It may seem obvious, but one of the best travel tips for Melbourne is to take advantage of the great day trips possible from the city. Simply rent a car for a day or book onto a tour to explore what the state of Victoria has to offer.
Some of the most popular day trips from Melbourne include Phillip Island, the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Wilsons Promontory National Park, and the Great Ocean Road.
Phillip Island offers beautiful landscape and the chance to see penguins, the Dandenong Ranges National Park has wonderful hiking trails, and Wilsons Promontory National Park has stunning views and the chance to see wildlife like kangaroos, wombats, and more!
The best way to take a day trip is to rent a car and do it yourself, so we recommend making use of the great deals on the Discover Cars website. Click here to get a quote in seconds via the Discover Cars website!
If you have the time for a multi-day trip then a great option is to rent a campervan. This makes it easier to discover some of the further away spots like Wilsons Promontory National Park or the Great Ocean Road. In particular we recommend following our 2 day Great Ocean Road itinerary to discover the best the coastal drive has to offer!
The Great Ocean Road is home to some wonderful nature, but it’s around an 80-minute drive from Melbourne to the start of the road in Torquay. From Torquay the road stretches for nearly 250 kilometres along the Victorian coastline, providing stunning views and the chance to stop off at waterfalls, rainforest, the famous 12 Apostles, and more!
If you don’t want to drive yourself then make sure to check out the wonderful day trips from Melbourne available through Get Your Guide. Click here to see the best day trips on the Get Your Guide website!
Beaches in the Mornington Peninsula
If you’re planning a beach day during your time in Melbourne then a trip to the Mornington Peninsula is a must! Although there are beaches nearer to the city, like the popular St Kilda Beach, the beaches of the peninsula are some of the nicest in the area.
The beaches of the Mornington Peninsula are around 1-1½ hours drive from Melbourne CBD, and are worth the effort to get to. Some of the peninsula’s best beaches include Sorrento Beach, Point King Beach, Rosebud Beach, Dromana Beach, and Diamond Bay.
Penguins in St Kilda
One of the best things to do in Melbourne at night is to head to St Kilda Pier to see the resident penguin colony. Hundreds of penguins live in the area and can be seen from the St Kilda Pier and Breakwater just after sunset.
Seeing the penguins is a pretty unforgettable experience, and can easily be a highlight of your time in Melbourne. It’s completely free to see the penguins, but unfortunately the pier is currently closed for redevelopment and isn’t expected to re-open until mid 2024.
If you’re interested in seeing wildlife in Australia then find out how to get to Rottnest Island near Perth and check out our 3 day Cairns itinerary to see more of the native animals.
Avoid the Summer Heat
Unless you want some really warm weather, it’s probably best to avoid visiting Melbourne in the peak of summer. It can get unbearably warm in the city, with highs of over 40°C (104°F).
Even if you’re used to very warm weather, it can be hard to explore the city well when it’s so hot. It’s a better idea to visit in spring or autumn as you should still get some good temperatures, but hopefully without quite such intense heat!
Unpredictable Weather
The weather in Melbourne can be pretty unpredictable, with temperatures often varying greatly throughout different parts of the day. Although temperatures can be in excess of 40°C (104°F) in the summer months, sometimes temperatures drop below 20°C (68°F) within a few hours.
Make sure to pack at least a couple of warmer tops just in case you get some colder weather during your trip. It’s worth planning ahead and having clothes for whatever weather you get during your stay in Melbourne!
Airports
There are two main airports servicing Melbourne, one of which is a fair bit closer to the city. When booking a flight to or from Melbourne it’s important to check which airport you’ll be flying to or from.
Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the city’s main domestic and international airport. It’s the closer of the two main airports to the city, located around a 25-minute drive from the CBD.
The best way to get from Melbourne Airport to the city is via the Skybus, which costs just $19.95 AUD one-way or $32 for a return ticket. Click here to book a Skybus transfer for your trip through Klook!
Avalon Airport is located quite a bit further out of Melbourne, and is actually closer to the city of Geelong. It’s around a 45-minute drive from Avalon Airport to Melbourne CBD, so it’s normally more convenient to fly into Tullamarine if possible.
When booking flights make sure to take note of which airport flights are to or from, as often searches will return results for both Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and Avalon Airport.
Free Museums and Galleries
Another great travel tip for visiting Melbourne is to take advantage of the city’s free museums and galleries. The city is somewhat considered to be the cultural hub of Australia, so don’t miss out on the chance to see what’s on offer.
There are a range of different free museums, so you’re likely to find something that captures your interest. Some of the top free museums and galleries in Melbourne include the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the Australian Music Vault, Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), and the Shrine of Remembrance.
As well as being some of the best free things to do in Melbourne, these museums make for great places to visit on a rainy day!
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